Page 77 of Be Very Quiet

“What do you think that means?” Liliana asked. “Is he changing his methods?”

“Maybe it wasn’t The Mortician, but someone using the story as a cover to kill her,” Christian theorized.

Luca nodded. “Like the ex-husband. He did hire a PI to investigate her.”

“That’s a solid hypothesis,” Audria agreed, “but how would that person know about the jewelry or to send it to Liliana? That information hasn’t been released.”

“Good point,” Christian admitted.

“Plus, the watch matched one reported missing from Susan Powers.” That alone made Luca confident it was the same person who had killed the other women. Maybe Georgia had been a victim of convenience. Or perhaps something else was in play.

He dialed Rex Raines. “Did you say Georgia was going to look at a house yesterday before she disappeared?”

“She was,” Rex confirmed.

“Do you have the address?”

“I don’t, but I can go to her office and find it.”

“Please do.”

There was a pause. “What happened?”

Luca didn’t want to tell him about the necklace, especially since the information was being kept close to the vest. Nor was it his place to reveal her potential death, especially without a body. Plus, her family would need to be notified first. “I wanted to run by there and check it out.”

“Oh, sure. Hold on.”

Luca listened as Rex said something to someone and then started tapping keys. “Here it is.” He recited the address. “Are you going there now?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll need the code to the lockbox. It’s computer-generated. Call me when you arrive, and I’ll text you the sequence.”

Luca thanked him and disconnected as Creed escorted Reese and Torres into the office. He looked intrigued by the newcomers but left without asking questions.

Luca showed them the latest arrivals. “The necklace most likely belongs to Georgia Perkins.”

“I found a picture of her wearing it.” Liliana turned her phone around to display a group picture. She zoomed in on Georgia, and the necklace was clearly visible.

“I didn’t see that coming,” Detective Torres admitted. “She’s a victim instead of an accomplice.”

“That blows the profile out of the water,” Reese said. “I’ll run the change by the analyst and see what she says.”

“I want to go by the last home she visited yesterday before disappearing,” Luca told them.

Reese nodded. “You have the address?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll drive.”

Detective Torres held up the evidence bag. “I need to get back, so I’ll drop these to be evaluated. Keep me posted.”

“I’ll stay here with Liliana and Smoke,” Christian offered.

Luca, Audria, and Reese headed out the door and climbed into Reese’s sedan. Luca provided directions, and twenty minutes later, Reese pulled into a paved driveway of a one-story, Mediterranean-style house with a red-tiled roof and stucco walls. It was nicely landscaped, the lawn was manicured, and the porch was freshly painted. The red and white for-sale sign in the front yard featured Rex’s smiling face.

Luca texted the real estate agent, and he sent the code to the lockbox. Luca typed in the sequence and took out the key to open the door. All three had their weapons in hand as they entered. The home had been staged with contemporary furniture that didn’t fit the Spanish-influenced exterior. Plants added color, even if they were fake. Several business cards and flyers detailing the house’s features were stacked on the granite island.

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